How to brush a dog’s teeth

‘How to brush a dog’s teeth’

Brushing your dog’s teeth is easy to do and very important. It can prevent some serious canine health problems. Gingivitis and tartar build up can progress into the more serious periodontal disease. Bad infections can spread and can lead to heart, liver and kidney problems. So good dog dental hygiene really is important.

Check your dog’s teeth and gums regularly to see what is normal so you can spot any problems.

For the first few days, just hold your dog as you would normally do when you are petting him.

Gently stroke the outside of the cheeks with your finger for a minute or two.

After each session, reward your dog with treats and praise.For the next few days – after your pet has become comfortable with this activity – place a small amount of the toothpaste on your finger and let your pet sample the flavour.

Next, introduce your pet to a pet toothbrush or finger brush.

Put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the brush and gently raise your dog’s upper lip and place the brush against an upper tooth.

With a slow circular motion, gently brush only that tooth and the adjoining gum line.

Each day gradually increase the number of teeth brushed. But go slowly, don’t continue beyond your pet’s point of comfort.

Build up to 30 seconds of brushing per side.

The easiest way in is to go straight, pushing the brush gently from front to back along the gumline, like this. Then add in the gentle circular motion.

After each session reward your pet with a treat and lots of praise.

Brushing should be done daily but missing 1-2 days per week would not be a big concern.

Always use a canine-approved toothpaste. Dog toothpaste is meaty rather than minty flavoured, so it tastes great to dogs.
If your dog likes the taste, they are much more likely to enjoy having their teeth brushed – and this makes your job a lot easier!
Never use human toothpaste! The fluoride in them can be poisonous to dogs.
Dog toothbrushes have longer handles and softer bristles than most human brushes. They come in various sizes. So choose one that is the right size for your dog.
Pop into your local branch and we can help you choose the right size for your dog.

How often should you brush a dog’s teeth?

We recommend daily brushing. The more regularly you brush, the better: so it becomes routine for you and your dog.

Diet and dog dental hygiene

Diet can be a major factor in the development of plaque and tartar. Soft foods or brittle dry kibble, which crumbs on impact, may contribute to plaque build up and subsequent periodontal disease.

We therefore recommend special non-brittle fibrous kibbles as they can be helpful in preventing plaque build up above the gum line. Hill’s t/d, which we stock, is considered the best of its type and a similar technology is in the Hills Vet Essentials range. These are recommended by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.

Dental chews can be a useful adjunct to brushing and/or diet but should not be relied on alone.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the tissue surrounding the tooth and takes hold in progressive stages.

It starts out as plaque, then calcifies into a hard rough substance called tartar or calculus. If left to spread, plaque and tartar can lead to gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums that worsens over time.

This leads to infection and in the final stages of periodontal disease, the surrounding soft tissue and bone are infected and the tooth becomes loose.

This process is very painful for your pet. Regular home dental care and professional cleaning can stop periodontal disease before it starts.

Dental disease has serious consequences

If left untreated, dog dental disease can cause or impact:

Gum infection

Bone infection

Liver function

Kidney function

Heart disease

What to look for:

Bad breath

Inflamed, swollen gums

Discomfort and pain

Exposed tooth roots

Loose or broken teeth

Weight loss / not eating

How to prevent dog dental disease

Firstly, you should have your pet's teeth examined by one of our team on a regular basis. As many conditions are progressive, early identification is important.

If necessary, this should be followed up with a professional dental clean. Your pet needs to be anaesthetised to carry out a thorough dental examination, and to clean all teeth without distressing them.

Our team will then remove the tartar above and below the gumline using ultrasonic and hand scalers, just like a dentist uses for our teeth.

The teeth are then polished using a dental polisher and specialised fine-grade paste.

If the dental disease is not severe, the procedure will end here. However, if certain teeth are so severely affected they cannot be saved, extractions will be necessary.

Once all dental work is finished, the anaesthetic is completed, and your pet is allowed to wake up. Pets are generally able to go home on the same day.

It is then recommended that an oral hygiene programme be started at home. This involves daily tooth brushing as it is considered to be the most effective way of removing plaque. Soft bristled toothbrushes and veterinary toothpastes designed for dogs and cats are available at our surgery.

These toothpastes appeal to pets and do not need to be rinsed. When brushing is not practical, an antibacterial oral rinse or gel may be recommended to help slow the build-up of dental plaque.